What Is The Social Issue In Thirteen Reasons Why

607 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Bullying and social issues

Fictional stories teach the students valuable lessons about life that nonfiction books might not be able to. Fictional books not only bring creativity to the classroom, but also gives the students a chance to think outside the box. These fictional stories provide a new and different way to comprehend the curriculum. For example, in the story Thirteen Reasons Why written by Jay Asher, it teaches the audience an important lesson about bullying. Most students witness these social issues on a daily basis. So why take away the one thing students can relate to?
The social issue in Thirteen Reasons Why is bullying. This is a very important issue to address in the classroom because almost every student is surrounded by this type of behavior at school. As stated in the article Bullying and Suicide Statistics written by Matt Dickinson “ 10 to 14 year old girls may be at an even higher risk for suicide.” This is one of the many examples of fictional stories that should be taught at school or be incorporated in the curriculum. Bullying is the act of hurting someone mentally or physically on purpose. In the book Clay Jensen says “I know who Hannah is talking about. I've seen his wrist-grabbing stunt before”. This quote shows the reader that she was assaulted physically and it was common. This could impact the reader in several …show more content…

He soons discovers that these cassette tapes reveal the reason why Hannah baker killed herself. Clay then needs to listen to all the cassette tapes to figure out why they were delivered to him and why he is one out of 13 reasons why Hannah committed suicide. Clay questions why he is part of her tapes and what he did wrong. This book provides many different points of and has a very deep message to it. This is an essential book to read because many kids might be able to relate to the social issues Hannah Baker goes through in the

Show More
Related

  • Vonnegut's Argument Against Banning Books

    580 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the article 10 Reasons for Banning Books and 5 Much Better Reasons not to, it states that the books teach us vocabulary, history, and new ways of thinking. “Every year I receive at least a dozen invitations to be commencement speaker at colleges and high schools. My books are probably more widely used in schools than those of any other living American fiction writer.”-excerpt from Kurt Vonnegut’s letter. Books are known for their choice of complex vocabulary. We use non-fictional books to learn about real events in history. Non-fictional books and articles show children a new way of thinking. Many books are used in an educational

    Read More

  • Ink And Ashes Essay

    752 Words  | 2 Pages

    Overall, fiction novels should be authorized to be in the school curriculum. Figment of imagination helps students connect more with the real world and find a solution to the challenges encountered. Students are open to different perspectives of life and learn to be creative and open minded. Lessons like making life and death decisions, telling the truth and the true meaning of friendship

    Read More

  • Forgive Me Leonard Peacock Analysis

    507 Words  | 2 Pages

    Asher was a bully who hurt Leonard in ways that could never be forgiven, causing Leonard to consider suicide. Due to the torture he was put through, Leonard decides to commit suicide and avenge his bully. This led me to create my GRQ about the effects of bullying on teenagers and how it can ultimately lead to violence, even suicide. Once in 6th grade while researching a project about bullying, I came across a new word: “bullycide”, which is when someone commits suicide due to bullying. It was a maudlin topic, but it also was interesting to learn about the idea from the viewpoints of the bully and the victim. During my research, I’m expecting to find some psychological effects on self-esteem and how bullying can corrupt self-esteem. Also, I know I will find many real-life examples of these tragedies such as Columbine and some survivor stories in which victims of bullying explain why they felt compelled to consider suicide. I predict my research will show how bullying affects both the victim and the bully because in many cases, they both are struggling with mental or emotional

    Read More

  • Point Of View In Danny Santiago's Famous All Over Town

    1054 Words  | 3 Pages

    While fiction deals with things, people and situations which have never existed, it may very well be inspired by real factual data. A history professor might recommend his students to use a fictional novel in order to get better insight regarding a situation. History records facts, not feelings. Fiction might present feelings and therefore allow the history student to understand the impact of happenings and to grasp the humanity which lies behind the factual data. Chatos story might be fictional, yet it is safe to assume that many Chatos have really existed and still exist. Statistic data and factual recordings may be insightful, that being said we might state that fiction serves history as an emotional

    Read More

  • Point Of View In To Kill A Mockingbird

    525 Words  | 2 Pages

    Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, who had committed suicide two weeks earlier. On the tape Hannah discusses the 13 reasons why she committed suicide him being one of them. Clay Jenson goes around town listening to Hannah and her thoughts about how she saw life. In the end he learns that a lot of people hide in their own skin and face challenges most people can’t see. In the end his view changed and it is showed by him going to a girl in the back of the bus who used to be popular but suddenly changed, showing he notices her change like

    Read More

  • Media Sensationalism in the Hannah Graham Case

    2081 Words  | 5 Pages

    The first is that this case is a terrifying tragedy, where a community and a family are devastated. This is shown through the two articles “Hannah Graham’s Parents Make Emotional Plea for Help” and “Two Girls Gone: Family Shares Grief and Plead for Vigilance.” These articles pull at the heartstrings of the public. It is an attempt to gain more viewers by creating a sense of sadness and also relatability, since Hannah was a smart, young, innocent woman simply out on the town having

    Read More

  • Intellectualism In Gerald Graff's 'Hidden Intellectualism'

    1189 Words  | 3 Pages

    As far out as teaching kids things through popular culture and general interest is, it is in fact very possible. Now a prime example is when English teachers use the book of hamlet to teach the lesson of to be or not to be. Teachers could instead use a book such as Friday night lights. Graff himself stated “until I entered college, I hated books and cared only for sports.” A lot of kids fall into this category of only caring about sports while school is just a side show, why don’t teachers take this to their advantage and use books about sports fictional or not to start the path to liking books, Don’t get me wrong there is an important role of critically acclaimed stories, but the focus should be towards the student’s own interests. For example, a book

    Read More

  • Alcoholism In The Bell Jar

    228 Words  | 1 Pages

    Although a novel is usually fictional most are written off real life experiences and feelings. Novels can enhance the feelings of what realism dumbs down to straight facts.

    Read More

  • I Know Why The Caged Bird Cannot Read Summary

    621 Words  | 2 Pages

    The argument that Francine Prose makes is valid with the way she supports it. The importance of books is most likely know by looking at the diction and the style of writing. However, some high school teachers prevent their students from knowing the importance by the way the teach. Using literary works to teach values makes it difficult for the students in the future, like in college. By teaching students the right way in the first place or in this case, in high school, will help them

    Read More

  • Nineteen Minutes By Jodi Picoult

    1029 Words  | 3 Pages

    The word “bullying” can be defined as the use of superior strength or influence to intimidate someone, typically to force him or her to do what one wants. In the novel Nineteen Minutes, written by Jodi Picoult, the high school students prove the definition to be true. The forms and effects of bullying have no real limit, but are always going to be negative. Children, or even adults being bullied is extremely common, and can often get out of hand. A lot of the times there nothing is done to prevent bullying, which is a huge mistake that should be corrected as soon as it could be. Through the extremely emotion filled novel, Nineteen Minutes, Jodi Picoult goes deep into the face of a small town to find out what it means to be truly different in society. Jodi Picoult uses the social issue of teenage bullying to create a realistic story about the effects of verbal and physical abuse, leading to a tragedy for society. This novel is a great example of how bullying no only affects the people who are involved, but many others as well. Bullying in teenage children not only has an effect on themselves and their peers, but on society as whole.

    Read More

  • Quotes For Thirteen Reasons Why

    1271 Words  | 3 Pages

    Suicide is when someone takes their own life because they feel like there is no other way out or that they do not matter. In addition to the novel, a Netflix original TV series has come out based on the book. The executive producer Tom McCarthy explains, “...When you get a piece of material like this that’s actually about something? You take that seriously and you really hope the discussion begins and will continue.” Sheff echoed that sentiment in his Vanity Fair piece: “I’m proud to be a part of a television series that is forcing us to have these conversations, because silence really does equal death.” The TV show and book are forcing people to have conversations about suicide, which is helping society because as Sheff put it, silence equals death. With this in mind, making students talk about it at school could break down imaginary walls that divide students and mold schools into a more encouraging place for kids to go to. Also, Based off of the article ‘13 Reasons Why Controversial Depiction of Teen Suicide Has School Counselors Picking Up the Pieces’, The book Thirteen Reasons Why “has also been lauded for starting a conversation about suicide, which is the second leading cause of death among teens.” The quote clearly states that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens, so this topic is very relevant to the school and the students inside of it. This

    Read More

  • Character Analysis Of Hannah Baker In Thirteen Reasons Why

    727 Words  | 2 Pages

    Suicide is a decision one makes to end his or her own life. People who make the decision to end their own life have often experienced depression, guilt, emptiness, or a combination of those, and many more negative things. Hannah Baker is a character in the book Thirteen Reasons Why By: Jay Asher who has lost hope in all aspects of her life. In this story, a boy who contributed to Hannah’s suicide receives tapes of her explaining the reasons why she did it. The tapes take him throughout the city they live in and help him understand further how and why she did this to herself. In this journal, I will be predicting that Clay will help Skye, questioning why both Justin and Hannah said nothing about what happened to Jessica, and connecting Hannah

    Read More

  • '13 Reasons Why And The Perks Of Being A Wallflower'

    1604 Words  | 4 Pages

    Depression is an extremely delicate topic. In the novels “13 Reasons Why” by Jay Asher and “The Perks of Being A Wallflower” by Stephan Chbosky do an outstanding job hitting the topic depression. Both novels cover depression in its own style. In one, someone commits suicide while on the contrary, the other person surpasses depression. Support systems are vital during depression, lack of communication as well as self-expression all lead to an easy way out. Anyone who is suffering from depression should have at least one confident to be able to communicate to. Depression is a heavy weighed disease in which one needs all the support one can get. A voice is needed as well, in which many people are scared of having. In each of the novels each fictional

    Read More

  • Reflection About Creative Writing

    1530 Words  | 4 Pages

    I believe that writing stories gives you more of an appreciation and understanding for a good book. All of the ideas that make a book come alive is from one author with an amazing imagination, who can captivate someone’s mind and tuck them into their world for a few hours. Every day in class I was allowed one hour to dedicate my time into a story, it is almost like entering your main character’s mind and acting as if it was you.

    Read More

  • Science Fiction Essay

    1470 Words  | 3 Pages

    It makes the learning process easier, less time consuming, and often more interesting. Although people in academia fear that integrating science fiction in course curriculum might degrade students’ learning habit, it is also true that science fiction fascinates students and encourages them to research more about the topic. This eventually broadens the students’ horizon of knowledge, which is the sole purpose of learning. While it is true that usage of science fiction may not always be the best choice for teachers as it requires time to find relevant materials, but, if made the right selection, students would very likely understand complex scientific theories in short time with little explanation. Therefore, science fiction narratives should be included in the course curriculum as it is beneficial to both teachers and students in the learning-teaching

    Read More

More about What Is The Social Issue In Thirteen Reasons Why

Open Document